The Nathan Jacobs Podcast On David, Giant Slayer | Not Your Mama’s Sunday School Story | With Fr. Stephen De Young
Jul 10, 2025
Fr. Stephen De Young, a priest and consultant for the Amazon show House of David, dives deep into the lesser-known narratives of King David. He unpacks the moral complexities behind the destruction of the Amalekites and discusses the role of giants in biblical stories. The conversation questions traditional Sunday school lessons and explores David’s cunning strategies against Goliath. With rich insights from Orthodox perspectives, this dialogue reshapes our understanding of biblical tales and their cultural implications.
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David's Outcast Origins
- David's experience as an outcast may stem from being born out of wedlock or linked to Moabite ancestry.
- Jewish tradition and Midrash expand on these origins, showing family and clan tensions that influence his story.
Corrupt Texts and Dual Traditions
- The Hebrew text of Samuel contains two intertwoven versions of David's story leading to corruption and confusion.
- The Greek text preserves a shorter, clearer version, which earlier translators like Jerome used as a crutch.
David's Sling and Boldness
- David was not a mere kid with a toy slingshot; he was a young military official skilled with a powerful and deadly weapon.
- The true marvel is his bravery and trust in God facing Goliath, not the miraculous nature of the shot.
